Assessing the Iran Congressional Oversight Act of 2015 (Boxer bill)

The Iran Congressional Oversight Act of 2015 (S. 669) is simple: If Iran cheats on a nuclear deal, the bill would allow Congress to quickly re-impose any sanctions that were relaxed. Unlike the Corker and Kirk-Menendez legislation, the White House has not yet announced whether it would veto the bill if it passes Congress.

This post is based on an advance copy of the legislation, which has not yet been released publicly.

Click here to view bill

Background. Sen. Barbara Boxer (D, Calif.), who is sponsoring the bill, first announced her intention to draft a “moderate proposal” in a January meeting of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. At the time, she said Sen. Rand Paul (R, Ky.) would co-sponsor the bill, but he has since signed up as a cosponsor of Corker’s legislation. Currently, the bill has six Democratic cosponsors, including Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D, Calif.).

Monitoring Iran’s compliance. The Boxer act requires the President to submit to Congress every 90 days an evaluation of whether Iran has fulfilled the terms of a nuclear agreement, whether it has tried to circumvent inspections, or whether it has been accused of violating the agreement. The Boxer bill applies the same standard to the Joint Plan of Action or any “successor agreement,” such as an extension to the Joint Plan of Action or a comprehensive agreement.

If Iran cheats. If the President determines that Iran has violated the terms of a nuclear agreement, the bill allows for expedited consideration in Congress of sanctions on Iran. Specifically, “all sanctions imposed with respect to Iran that were waived or suspended…are reinstated and the release of funds or assets to Iran…is prohibited.”